Rotary oxyfuel bevel head from MicroStep allows 3D processing of thick steels

MicroStep has developed the MicroStep rotator, which integrates an oxyfuel torch into the company's existing rotary bevel head design for cutting complex contours with multiple bevel cuts in thick materials.

The 3D bevel head offers endless rotation and a tilt up to 52 degrees (for plasma torches). Featuring a torch pivot point aligned with its rotary axis, it is suitable for cutting a variety of bevel shapes, including internal contours, variable bevels, and multiple bevel contours Y, X, or K.

For oxyfuel, the head has been modified to include an endless gas transmitter; a tactile height measurement system; and a 67-degree torch tilt, which allows the head to make use of the generally narrower and pointier oxyfuel torch for cutting material at bigger angles.

The rotary oxyfuel bevel head handles direct beveling of materials more than 4.75 in. thick (up to 7.85 in., depending on application and bevel angle). It offers a cut angle range of 0 to 65 degrees. The AC geometry of the bevel head allows it to cut small-radii holes and inner contours, such as for thick pipe intersections.

The oxyfuel rotator with an integrated laser scanner can use the company’s Additional Beveling Process (ABP), which greatly expands the possibilities of beveling thick sheets on a cutting machine. The principle of this technology is that the part is first cut straight, then removed from the sheet, placed on a free spot on the cutting table, and scanned for exact contour/position, and bevel cuts then are added to the contour. For oxyfuel, this means that parts from 9.85 to 11.8 in. thick can be produced with clean bevels with angles from 60 to 65 degrees while saving gas and material.